Liquid dispensing apparatus



July 16, 1 H. SHAPIRO LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvehtor lulll'l ll attorney July 16, 1940. H. SHAPIRO LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 4 i VI 1 .lll

a fimL I E I 3nvcntor Gltorncg Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE one-half to Samuel Pa.

J. Becker, Philadelphia,

Application July 9, 1938, Serial No. 218,444

9 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for dispensing aseptic medicinal fluids without danger of contaminating the same, the present invention being an improvement over that disclosed and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 51,337 filed Nov. 23, 1935, now Patent No. 2,124,214, dated July 19, 1938.

In my said copending application, I have disclosed a medicinal dispensing apparatus comprising a bottle or other suitable container for the medicinal fluid in the neck of which is tightly fitted a stopper member having a tube extending into the container. The inner end of the tube is provided with an opening which is normally closed by a soft rubber plug or the like, and the tube is partially filled with a suitable sterilizing liquid when the device is in use. Fitted within the aforementioned tube is a Venting device for admitting air from the atmosphere into the container. This venting device is formed of a plurality of relatively movable members which provide a circuitous path for atmospheric air, the venting device being so constructed and arranged that air from the atmosphere which is admitted therethrough must pass through the sterilizing solution. The venting device is also provided with a member which is adapted to pierce the tube closing plug for establishing communication between the interior of the tube and the air space in the container whereby the sterilized air may pass into the container and thereby permit withdrawal of the medicinal fluid therefrom nected to the stopper member.

While the several forms of the invention disclosed in my said copending application all work very satisfactorily, they are open to the objection that the means therein disclosed for manipulating the venting device is of such a nature as to require the exercise of considerable care in handling the container after a period of service if contamination of the medicinal fluid by the sterilizing solution is to be avoided. For example, unless the aforementioned plug piercing member is first withdrawn from the plug so as to disestablish communication between the tube and the air space in the container, the steriliz ing fluid will, upon inversion of the container prior to storage thereof, pass into the container and thus contaminate the medicinal fluid remaining therein. Occasionally, a careless operator will overlook the necessity of taking this precaution and, as a result, the medicinal fluid will become spoiled.

through a suitable discharge tube or the like con; 7

Another objection which may, possibly, be raised against one of the specific stopper members disclosed in my said copending application is that unless care is exercised during insertion of the venting device into the aforementioned tube and in connecting the discharge tube to the stopper prior to setting the apparatus up for use, air may be forced into the container directly from the atmosphere and the contents thereof contaminated even before any of it has been used.

The primary object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved liquid dispensing apparatus which will not be subject to provide liquid dispensing apparatus of the type heretofore described with an improved manipulating device for the venting means which will automatically so condition the venting means when the container is removed from its supporting structure after a period of use that it will not be possible for the sterilizing liquid to enter the container.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an improved stopper member for a container of the type previously described.

A further object of my present invention'is to provide an improved container as aforesaid wherein the temperature of the contents may be controlled at will.

Still a further object of my present invention is to provide an improved liquid discharging tube for apparatus of the type set forth.

Another object of my present invention is to provide, in apparatus as heretofore set forth, improved means for controlling the rate at which the liquid contents of the container may be withdrawn.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide improved liquid dispensing apparatus which is simple and. practical in construction and is comprised of a minimum number of parts consistent with the highly efiicient operation of which it is capable, which provides adequate insurance for the liquid in the container against contamination, which may be manipulated with great facility, and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with my present invention, I provide a clamping ring which supports the container in inverted position during operation and which clamps the manipulating member for the venting device firmly against the stopper. Interposed between the manipulating member and the venting device is a coiled spring so arranged that, when the container is removed from the clamping ring prior to being set upright again, it will force the manipulating device awayfrom the stopper to thereby automatically withdraw the piercing element which pierces the soft rubber plug or closure of the tube containing the sterilizing liquid and which during operation of the apparatus, establishes communication between the tube and the container. Thus, communication between the tube and the container is shut off and the possibility of having any sterilizing liquid enter with the container is entirely eliminated.

A further feature of my present invention consists in the provision of a novel discharge tube through which the medicinal fluid may be easily withdrawn. This discharge tube is movably carried by the stopper member and is so arranged therein that, by suitable manipulation of the discharge tube, the rate, of flow of the medicinal fluid from the bottle may be readily controlled. I also provide the stopper member with a plurality of additional inwardly extending tubes one of which is adapted to receive a heating medium for heating the medicinal fluid and another of which is adapted to receive a temperature indicating instrument by means of which the temperature of the medicinal fluid can be determined.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularily in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is asectional view of my improved apparatus taken approximately on the line II of Figure 3, and showing the position of the parts when the container is about to be mounted on its clamping ring and before the piercing element on the venting device has been forced through the closure in the tube containing the sterilizing liquid,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the container mounted on its supporting or clamping ringaand showing the position of the parts after the piercing element has been forced through the closure in the tube to establish communication between the tube and the container.

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially on the line IIIHI of Figure 2 and showing the relation of the stopper in the container, the venting device and its manipulating element, and the clamping ring which supports the container,

Figure 4 is a view showing a modified form of stopper for the container, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of still another form of stopper device for the container.

Referring more specifically t the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown, in Figures 1 and 2, a container I comprising a receptacle for receiving an aseptic medicinal fluid 3 suitable, for example, for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, or similar injections, and having a neck portion which is externally threaded. Tightly fitted into the neck 5 is a rubber, cork, or other suitable stopper 1 having a substantially central opening 9 therein and at least two other openings II and I3 radially spaced from the opening 9, the opening I3 being, preferably, reduced to a smaller diameter at its inner end whereby to provide an annular shoulder I5 for a purpose shortly to be set forth.

Fitted tightly within the opening 9 is a tubular member H of glass or any other suitable material, the tube I! having an open inner end I9 of reduced diameter and a soft rubber plug or closure member LI normally closing the end I9. Into the inner end of the opening I I is tightly fitted a glass or other suitable tube 23 for receiving a suitable temperature indicating device, such as a thermometer (not shown), by means of which the temperature of the medicinal liquid 3 may be ascertained, while a sleeve 25, preferably of metal and of the same shape as the opening I3, is fitted tightly into the opening I3, a soft rubber plug or closure 21 being tightly fitted into the sleeve 25 and resting against the annular shoulder thereof which abuts the shoulder l5, whereby the opening I3 is closed. Thus, the combined effect of the stopper I, the tube I I with its closure member 2|, the tube 23, and the sleeve 25 with its closure member 25 is to completely shut off and seal the contents of the receptacle I from the atmosphere.

The tubular member I1 is provided to receive an air venting device generally designated by the numeral 29 by means of which atmospheric air may be admitted into the container I for withdrawal of the liquid 3 therefrom and also to receive a sterilizing medium 3| for sterilizing and cleaning the air prior to its entry into the air space above the liquid 3. The venting device 29 has a base plate 33 with the peripheral portion 35 of which an annular screw cap 31, threaded onto the receptacle neck 5, cooperates to clamp the base 33 against the neck 5 and the stopper 1.. The base plate 33 has a boss 39 thereon provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bayonet slots M, and also a plurality of openings corresponding in number to and aligned with those of the stopper I.

Fixed to the base plate- 33, as by threading to its central opening, is a centrally bored and diametrically slotted cylindrical guiding member 43 on the upper end of which is formed a spacing sleeve 44 in which a stationary, intermediate tube 45 is frictionally fitted. The sleeve 44 serves to space the intermediate tube 45 from an outer tube 41 having an outer diameter materially smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular member II. A pointed member 49 which is adapted to pierce the soft rubber closure 2| and which has a small air chamber 5| therein is either formed integrally with or may be suitably secured to the upper end of the outer tube 41, the member 39 being formed with one or more radial vents 53 which provide communication between the interior of the tube I! and the chamber 5I,- and with a duct or passage 55 terminating adjacent its pointed tip and also communicating with the chamber 5|. Thus,

when the tip of the'member 49 is forced through the closure or rubber plug 2|, as shown in Figure 2, communication is established between the interior of the tubular member I! and the interior of the'contain'er 1 via the vents 53, the chamber 5!, and the duct 55.

For manipulating the closure piercing member 49 and to provide a path for entrance of air from the atmosphere into the sterilizing tube l1, aninner tube 5'! is threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the member 49 and is slidably mounted in the intermediate tube 45 for movement in a longitudinal direction normal to the base 33, the tube 5'! being internally threaded at its lower end. Preferably, the tubes 45, 47 and 51 are arranged co-axially to each other and 'to the base plate 33, and the inner tube 51 extends down through the central bore of the guiding member 43, as clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 2. Force fit onto the lower end of the tube 57 is a terminal member 59 having a pair of diameterically opposed extensions 6| which are received within the diametrical slot of the guide 43, whereby rotation of the inner tube 51 is prevented and its movement is confined only to lineal movement in a longitudinal direction.

A hollow, cylindrical manipulating element 63 is provided at one end with an outwardly extending base flange 65 and adjacent its other end with an inwardly extending flange El in which is fixed, as by tightly threading therein, a hollow stem 69 rather loosely threaded into the lower end of thetube 5?. Upon turning the manipulating element and its threaded. stem 69 one way or the other, as may be desired, it is obvious that, since the inner tube 51 cannot rotate. it will be moved longitudinally up or down, at will, relative to the intermediate tube 55 and the base 33, depending upon the direction of rotation of the manipulating element and will carry with it the pointer closure piercing member 49 and the outer tube 17. In this way, the piercing member Ml may be brought into piercing relation with the closure 2!, shown in Figure 2, to establish communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the container or it may be withdrawn from piercing relation with the closure 2i, as shown in Figure l, to

di'sestablish such communication.

When the venting device 28 is in the position shown in Figure 2, air from the atmosphere passes in through an opening ii in a cap 13 which is screwed onto the outer end of the manipulating element 63 and in which a wad of cotton (not shown) saturated with a suitable sterilizing solution may be placed as an additional precaution. .The air then passes up through the hollow stem t9 and the inner tube El, through one or more small openings V5 in the upper end of the tube 51. then reverses itself and passes down between the tubes 45 and M, and then through one or more small openings it in the lower region of the outer tube ll into the space between the tube M and the tubular member ill in which the sterilizing liquid 38 is located. Here, the air passes upwardly again through the liquid 31 which thoroughly cleans and sterilizes it, then through the radial vents 53 into the chamber 5| which, if desired, may also be filled with awad of cotton saturated with the same or other suitable sterilizing solution, and finally through the duct 55 into the air space above the liquid In this manner, the air coming from tbe'atmosphere is rendered clean and sterile prior to reaching the interior of the receptacle i and, when reaching the air space above the liquid 3, per mits the withdrawal of the medicinal fluid by means presently to be described.

The structure thus far described is fairly similar to that set forth in my above-identified copending application. When a sufiicient quantity of medicinal fluid has been withdrawn from the container I, it is usually inverted to upright position and returned to its place of storage, but unless care is taken that the closure piercing member i9 is first withdrawn from the closure 2|, which a careless operator is apt to omit doing sometimes, the sterilizing solution M will enter the radial vents 53'when the container is inverted and thence pass into the chamber 5|, the duct 55 and the container l, thereby rendering themedicinal fluid 3 unfit for further use. To eliminate this possibility, I' provide a coil spring 89 within the hollow manipulating element 63 about the cylindrical guiding member 43 and the stem 69 which is co -axial therewith, the spring 79 being preferably initially placed under slight compression between the enlarged portion of the guide 43- threaded into and; in effect,

constituting an extension of the base 33 and the diametrically opposed extensions 8! of the terminal member 59. Thus, the spring '59 constantly tends to force the tube 57 and its associated parts, as well as the manipulating element 63, in a downward direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to move the manipulating element 53 away from the base 33 and the piercing member 49' out of piercing relation with the closure 2!.

In order to' maintain the manipulating element 63 in engagement with the base 33, so that the spring '59 will always be under compression, I provide a clamping member 8! which may be clamped to a suitable stand 83 and which carries a clamping ring 85 into which the screw cap 3"! is adaptedto fit, whereby the container may be set into the clam-ping ring 85 when in the inverted position shown in the drawings to be supported therein. The clamping ring 55 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending radial pins 8 equal in number to the number of bayonet slots 4' in the boss 39' and of a length sufficient to permit them to engage the base flange 65 f themanipulati-ng element On placing the container I in the clamping ring 35with the shorter lengths of the slots ll over the pins 81 and then giving the container a slight turn in the proper direction, not only will the container become removably locked to the supporting ring 85 in operative position, but the pins ill will simultaneously force the manipulating element 63- agai'nst the base 33, thereby initially compressing the spring 753 somewhat, as shown in Figure 1', and constraining the manipulating element to rotation on; the base or in a fixed plane. Obviously, instead of holding the manipulating element against the base 33 in the manner just described, the manipulating element may be held against some other fixed portion of the apparatus and will operate just satisfactorily provided it is held against vertical movement and its rotation is confined to a plane parallel to that of the base 3 3".

By rotating the manipulating element 53 and its stem 69 in a counter-clockwise direction, the inner tube 51 will be moved upwardly to carry with it the outer tube ,4!- and its Closure piercing member I9 until the piercing member 43 is caused to pierce and extend asuitable distance through the closure 2%. It will be noted that thiswill also cause the spring T9 to be still more compressed, whereby its tendency to force the piercing member 49' out of piercing relation with the closureZl will be increased. Rotation of the element 63' in aclockwise direction thereafter will, of course, effect downwardmovement of the tubes 5'! and 41 and of the piercing member 49 to effect withdrawal of the latter from the closure 2I. Suppose, however, that the operator fails to first rotate the element 53 in a clockwise direction as above described, but instead attempts to remove the container I from the clamping ring .85. In such case, as soon as the clamping pins 8! are separated from the flange 65, the spring HI will be free to expand and, upon expanding, will immediately force the piercing member 40 out of piercing relation with the closure 2I.

Secured to the base 33 in any suitable manner and extending into the sleeve 25 within the opening I3 is a supporting sleeve 9| in which is fixedly supported, as by tightly threading therein, a guiding member 93 having a flange 95 on its lower end. Preferably, but not necessarily, a sleeve 9'! is force fit over the supporting sleeve SI and the adjacent, protruding end of the guide 93, the sleeve 91 being of such dimensions that it'will compress the rubber plug 21 to insure a tight seal and to prevent the plug 21 from being easily withdrawn from the sleeve 25 as a discharge needle, about to be described, is worked through the plug 21. The sleeves 25 and 91 also cooperate to insure proper operation of the discharge needle without twisting the plug 21.

The flange 95 is rather loosely confined between a pair of cooperating members 09 and IM which are tightly threaded together and which serve as operating means for the aforementioned discharge needle or tube I033. The needle I 03 is threadedly received in the member IOI and slide.- bly received in the guide 93, but it is held frictionally against rotation by the plug 21. I Hence, as the operating members 99IOI are rotated counterclockwise, the discharge needle I03 is moved upwardly through the plug 21 from the position shown in Figure 1, whereas if the operating members 99IOI are rotated in a clockwise direction, the needle I03 is withdrawn from the position shown in Figure 2. The needle I03 has a central passage formed longitudinally therein and terminating in a radial bore I05. Preferably, the innermost end of the sleeve 25 is inwardly flanged at I01 to provide an opening of a diameter just suflicient to snugly accommodate the discharge needle I03. Thus, the extent of overlap between the flange I01 and-the bore I05 will provide a fine adjustment for controlling the rate at which the liquid 3 is withdrawn from the container I. Varying the overlap between the duct 55 and the closure 2|, or between the openings I5 and the stationary tube 45, or between the openings 11 and the spacing sleeve 44 may also be availed of to control the rate of flow of the liquid 3 from the receptacle, but I have found that the flow of liquid may be most conveniently and most suitably controlled by merely turning the operating members -IOI a slight bit one way or the other, since this permits much more ready and much finer adjustment.

In Figure 4, I have shown a modified form. of stopper I for the container I. This form of stopper is provided with a head flange 8 which fits against the periphery of the neck 5 and serves as a gasket which further helps to seal the contents of the receptacle I when the cap 31 is screwed onto the neck 5.

Figure 5 shows still another form of stopper which may be advantageously used in connection with my invention. In addition to the openings 9, II and I3, this form of stopper is provided with an additional opening I4 also radially spaced from the central opening 9. A tube I6 is tightly fitted into the opening I4 for the reception of suitable means, such as an electric heating element, a coil through which hot water or steam may be circulated, or the like I8, for heating the medicinal liquid 3 to a desired temperature, and the temperature of the liquid 3 may be noted through the tube 23.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an improved apparatus which will insure against contamination of a septic fluid placed in the container, and although I have described but one specific form thereof, I am aware that many other modifications are possible. I therefore desire that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as is made necessary by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a container, a tubular member extending thereinto and having a normally open inner end, a pierceable closure for said end, venting means within said tubular member for establishing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of said container, said venting means comprising a plurality of relatively adjustable members and including a closure piercing device on one of said members, means for adjusting said members to bring said piercing device into piercing relation with said closure, and means constantly tending to force said piercing device out of piercing relation with said closure.

2. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a container, a tubular member extending thereinto and having a normally open inner end, a pierceable closure for said end, venting means within said tubular member for establishing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of said container, said venting means comprising a plurality of spaced, co-axial. members adjustable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction, a closure piercing device on one of said members, means associated with said last named member for adjusting it longitudinally relative to another of said members to bring said piercing device into piercing relation with said closure, and means acting in opposition to said last named means constantly tending to force said piercing device out of piercing relation with said closure. 3. The invention set forth in claim 2 characterized in that said adjusting means comprises a hollow manipulating element, and characterized further in that said means which constantly tends to force said piercing device out of piercing relation with said closure comprises a coil spring within said element and interposed between a portion of said element and a portion of said venting means.

4. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a container, a tubular member extending thereinto and having a normally open inner end, a pierceable closure for said end, venting means within said tubular member in spaced relation thereto for establishing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of said container, said venting means comprising a plurality of spaced, co-axial members adjustable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction and including a pointed closure piercing device on one of said members, said members providing a series of reversely directed successive passages having communication with the space between said venting means and said tubular member, and said closure piercing device having a duct therein terminating adjacent the point of said piercing device and also communicating with said space, means for longitudinally adjusting said members to cause said piercing device to pierce said closure whereby communication may be established between said duct and the interior of said container, and'means acting in opposition to said last named means constantly tending to force said piercing device out of piercing relation with said closure whereby to disestablish communication between said duct and the interior of said container.

5. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a container, venting means associated therewith for admitting air from the atmosphere into the container, said venting means including a base and a member adjustable relative to said base, means associated with said member for imparting movement thereto relative to said base in either of two directions at will, and means constantly tending to impart movement to said member in only one of said directions.

6. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a container, venting means associated therewith for admitting air from the atmosphere into the container, said venting means including a base and a member adjustable in either of two opposite directions along a path normal to said base, a manipulating element having a centrally disposed stem threadedly connected to said member, said element having a flange thereon, a clamping device engaging said flange and holding it against said base whereby to confine said element to rotary movement on said base and thereby to effect movement of said'member along said path in either of said directions at will depending upon the direction of rotation of said element, and spring means within said element arranged to constantly urge said element away from said base whereby, upon separation of said clamping device from said flange, said spring will cause said element to move away from said base and thereby effect movement of said member in only one of said directions.

'7. The invention set forth in claim 6 characterized in that said spring means is constituted by a coil spring disposed about said stem and interposed between said base and the end portion of said manipulating element.

7 8. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a container adapted to receive a liquid therein and having a normally open neck, a flexible stopper fitted into said neck and having an opening therein, a rigid sleeve lining said opening, a pierceable closure within said sleeve normally closing said opening, a discharge tube adjustably mounted in said sleeve, said discharge tube having a pointed end adapted to pierce said closure, guide means at least partially within said sleeve for guiding the movement of said discharge tube within said'sleeve, and means for adjusting said discharge tube to either cause it to pierce said closure and'pass therebeyond into said container or to withdraw said discharge tube from said container and from piercing relation with said closure at will.

, thereby control the rate of discharge of the liquid from said container.

- HENRY SHAPJRO. 

